Food receptacle and heating apparatus

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a food receptacle and heating apparatus to receive food products therein for receiving, displaying, and maintaining at a proper serving temperature which includes (1) a main container housing; (2) a food support assembly mounted within the main container housing to receive and transfer the food product therein; and (3) an air flow and temperature control assembly to provide for the flow of heated air therethrough. The main container housing includes a generally rectangular box shape basic housing assembly having a top lid member pivotally connected thereto. The food support assembly includes (1) a clean out tray member for receiving debris and food particles thereon; (2) a first inclined screen member to receive the food product thereon about to be removed therefrom; and (3) a second inclined screen member to hold the food product for initial heating before moving downwardly onto the first inclined screen member. The air flow and temperature control assembly includes a main blower assembly to receive inlet and transfer air; a heater assembly to receive air from the main blower assembly and heat same; and a circuit control assembly to control overall operation. The circuit control assembly includes a thermostat member operable to control operation of the main blower assembly and the heater assembly to provide for movement of the heated air from a lower portion of the main container assembly upwardly through the first and second inclined screen members to be discharged through holes in the top lid member.

PRIOR ART

A patentability search concerning this invention herein revealed thefollowing United States Patents.

    ______________________________________                                        Reg. No.                                                                             Patent                  Inventor                                       ______________________________________                                        2,715,898                                                                            FOOD WARMING AND        Michaelis                                             CONDITIONING DEVICE     et al                                          3,327,092                                                                            DISPLAY WARMER          Wilson                                         3,545,832                                                                            HEATED DISPLAY CASE     Levenback                                      4,491,065                                                                            FOOD HEATING APPARATUS  Poulson                                        4,499,818                                                                            METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR                                                                              Strong                                                HOLDING FRESHLY PREPARED                                                      FRIED FOOD PRODUCTS                                                    ______________________________________                                    

The Michaelis et al patent discloses a roaster type structure used forfood warming being provided with a front hinged door to gain access andthe structure maintains a humidifying effect on the food therein.

The Strong patent discloses an apparatus for holding the prepared friedfood products, having a conventional heater element and blowercombination but does not have the numerous features of our invention.

The Levenback patent discloses a heated display case normally found indelicatessens and grocery stores to hold food products in excess of 140degrees Fahrenheit. This structure is concerned with the product beingmaintained with a proper moisture content without further cooking anddrying out of the food product.

The Wilson patent discloses another display warmer having a plurality ofshelves with a conventional heater and blower structure to maintain thecirculation of air therein.

The most pertinent patent appears to be Poulson for a food heatingapparatus utilizing a heating chamber having a perforated food containerrotatable therein. The hot air is forced through the openings in therotatable food container in order to heat the food product therein. Thisstructure would appear to operate to warm food products but is verycomplex in structure and not as easy to load and unload as ourinvention.

Therefore, it is noted that the entire combination of elements of theapplicant's invention as set forth hereinafter is not revealed in theprior art search.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In one preferred embodiment of this invention, a food holding andheating apparatus is provided which includes a main container housing; afood support assembly mounted within the main container housing; and anair flow and food temperature control assembly operable to supply inletair and heat for warming food product contained within the maincontainer housing. The main container housing includes a basic housingassembly of generally rectangular box shape having a top lid memberpivotally connected thereto. The basic housing assembly is provided witha front wall with an outlet door member pivotally connected thereto toselectively remove food product therefrom and a side wall having a cleanout opening to remove a clean out tray member for periodic maintenancethereof. The top lid member is provided with a main lid body having aplurality of air discharge openings therein and being selectively openedto readily add food product therein to be heating. The food supportassembly includes a clean out tray member supported on a bottom wall ofthe main container housing operable to collect food product particlesfor ready removal and maintenance thereof and first and second inclinedscreen members with parallel longitudinal axis mounted transversly inthe basic housing assembly. The first screen member extends the entirelength and width of the basic housing assembly and is inclineddownwardly towards an outlet door member for selective removal of theheated food product when properly prepared. The second inclined screenmember is mounted in an opposite inclination to the first inclinedscreen member and does not completely cover the area so that the foodproduct can move downwardly as being heated and transversly of the basichousing assembly for subsequent removal therefrom thru the outlet doormember. The air flow and food temperature control assembly includes amain blower assembly to receive inlet air and force the subject airtowards a heater assembly, both of which are controlled by a circuitcontrol assembly. The heater assembly is provided with a heater elementto heat the air to the desired temperature. The heated air is directedinto a lower portion of the basic housing assembly and moves upwardlythrough the first and second inclined screen members to heat the foodproduct supported thereon. The circuit control assembly includes athermostat member operable to maintain the proper temperature of the airwithin the main container housing to achieve the desired end result andfunction of this invention.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

One object of this invention is to provide a food receptacle and heatingapparatus including a main container housing adapted to receive foodproduct in an upper end therein for moving downwardly and transversly ina contolled pattern and having an air flow and temperature controlassembly to receive and heat inlet air to be moved transversly andupwardly through the food product to achieve a desired warming thereof.

One other object of this invention is to provide a food receptacle andheating apparatus including a main container housing with a basichousing assembly with a pivotal top lid member thereon having variousopenings therein to (1) add food product through the top lid member; (2)to selectively remove heated food product through a lower outlet doormember; (3) a lower air distributor or inlet opening to distributeheated air throughout the basic housing assembly; and (4) a clean outtray door operable to be opened to remove a clean out tray member forperiodic maintenance.

One other object of this invention is to provide a food receptacle andheating apparatus including a main container housing with a food supportassembly mounted therein having first and second inclined screen membersoperable to receive a food product thereon for its subsequent travellaterally and downwardly for a sufficient time period for heating to theproper temperature.

Still, one other object of this invention is to provide a foodreceptacle and heating apparatus which is economical to operate; easy toadd and remove food product; automatic in controlled heating operation;generally maintenance free; easy to maintain in a sanitary condition;economical to manufacture; and reliable in operation.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of this invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdiscussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGURES OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the food receptacle and heatingapparatus of this invention having inlet, outlet, and clean out doormembers shown in the open position and portions broken away for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a rear portion of thisinvention having a portion broken away for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a sectional side elevation view taken inside one end wallillustrating the inlet and outlet door members in the opened positionsin dotted lines and a portion broken away for clarity; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a circuit control assembly ofthe food receptacle and heating apparatus of this invention.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specificembodiments of the food receptacle and heating apparatus of thisinvention, such being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon thesame reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar partsand/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion anddescription is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, a foodreceptacle and heating apparatus of this invention, indicated generallyat 12, is operable and utilized to hold food product therein such asfood chips 14 noted in FIG. 3. The food receptacle and heating apparatus12 includes (1) a main container housing 16; (2) a food support assembly18 mounted within the main container housing 16 to receive and conveythe food chips 14 thereon; and (3) an air flow and food temperaturecontrol assembly 20 operable to receive the ambient air to heat and blowsame through the food support assembly 18 and the food chips 14 forprogressively and properly heating to the desired temperature.

The main container housing 16 is of generally rectangular box shapehaving a basic housing assembly 22 with a top lid member 24 pivotallyconnected thereto. The basic housing assembly 22 includes (1) abottomwall 26; (2) spaced parallel end walls 28, 30 extended upwardlyand integral with the bottom wall 26; (3) a back wall 34 secured alongthe bottom and side edges to the respective bottom wall 26 and end walls28, 30; and (4) a front wall 36 connected to the other edges of thebottom wall 26 and end walls 28, 30 and extended upwardly therefrom.

The end wall 28 is provided with a clean out opening 37 near a lowerportion thereof having a clean out door member 38 secured by a clean outhinge member 39 about the clean out opening 37. The clean out doormember 38 is provided with a knob member 40 so as to pivotally andperiodically open same for maintenance purposes in a manner to beexplained.

The back wall 34 is provided with an air diffuser or inlet opening 35 toreceive and distribute heated inlet air to the interior of the basichousing assembly 22 in a manner to be explained and having a thermostatopening 41 therein.

As noted in FIG. 1, the front wall 36 is provided with an outlet doormember 42 which is pivotally connected about a rectangular opening 44.The outlet door member 42 is provided with a main door body 43 pivotallyconnected along a lower edge by a hinge member 48 and a knob member 50for ease of grasping and pivotally moving from the open to the closedconditions as noted in solid and dotted lines, respectively, in FIG. 3.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the top lid member 24 is provided with a mainlid body 54 pivotally connected by a piano type lid hinge member 56along the upper surface of the back wall 34 and having a lid knob member58 connected to an upper surface of the main lid body 54 for ease ofgrasping and opening.

The main lid body 54 is of generally rectangular shape having aplurality of openings or holes 60 therein and providing about an outerperipheral edge of the main lid body 54 with a downwardly dependingflange section 62 which contacts the upper top surfaces of end walls 28,30 and front wall 36. The holes 60 are constructed of a desired size andconfiguration in conjunction with that of the air flow and foodtemperature control assembly 20 so as to provide for exit of heated airflow therethrough. The holes 60 are of a size to permit the air flow tomaintain a sufficient temperature and time of flow through the foodsupport assembly 18 to heat the food product or chips 14.

As noted in FIGS. 1 and 3, the food support assembly 18 includes (1) aclean out tray member 64; (2) a first inclined screen or shield member66; and (3) a second inclined screen or shield member 68. The clean outtray member 64 is provided with a bottom wall section 70 having aboutits outer peripherally an upwardly extended flange sections 72. It isnoted that the clean out tray member 64 is adapted to receive debrissuch as food particles thereon to be removed and dispensed with duringperiodic maintenance.

The first screen member 66 is positioned above the air inlet opening 35in the back wall 34 and is inclined therefrom downwardly and forwardlyto a position even with or below the rectangular opening 44 in the frontwall 36. The first screen member 66 is of a sufficient length and widthso as to completely cover the cross-sectional area of the basic housingassembly 22 and having a plurality of openings 67. The angle andinclination of the first inclined screen member 66 is such that it usesforce of gravity to move the food chips 14 downwardly towards the outletdoor member 42.

The second inclined screen member 68 resembles the first screen member66 as far as the openings or holes 67 but is inclined in a reverseddirection. The second screen memberf 68 is equal in length to that ofthe first screen member 66, but of a lesser width so as to leave an openarea indicated at 69 to permit the food product or chips 14 supportedthereon to move downwardly onto the upper portion of the first screenmember 66 for continued heating thereof.

The air flow and food temperature control assembly 20 includes (1) amain blower assembly 74 secured to the back wall 34 of the basic housingassembly 22; (2) a heater assembly 76 connected to an outlet portion ofthe main blower assembly 74; (3) a heater and blower housing 77; and (4)a circuit control assembly 78 operably connected to the main blowerassembly 74 and the heater assembly 76.

As noted in FIG. 2, the main blower assembly 74 includes a blowerhousing 80 having a blower motor 82 to drive a conventional fan sectionto force inlet air through an air outlet housing 84. The main blowerassembly 74 is operable similar to a vacuum motor member to receive airflow through louver members 81 to provide the inlet air to the blowermotor 82 to discharge same under pressure through the air outlet housing84.

The heater assembly 76 includes an outer heating housing 86 having aheater element 88 therein. The heater element 88 is operable onreceiving the air from the air outlet housing 84 to heat same to thedesired temperature. The heated air moves through a discharge housing 89which, in turn, is connected to an air distributor housing 91. As notedin FIG. 3, the heated air moves through the air inlet opening 35 in theback wall 34 as will be explained.

The circuit control assembly 78 includes (1) an inlet power cord 90; (2)an electrical circuit 92 connected to the inlet power cord 90; and (3) athermostat member 94 which automatically controls operation of theblower motor 82 and the heater element 88 as will be noted.

The inlet power cord 90 is of a conventional nature having a plug member96 adapted to be placed in a conventional electrical outlet such as 110volt A.C.

As noted in FIG. 4, the electrical circuit 92 includes (1) lines 98 and100 connected to the plug member 96; (2) an on/off switch 102 mounted inthe line 100 to control power supply to the main blower assembly 74 andthe heater assembly 76; (3) a line 104 connected from line 100 to oneside of the heater element 88 and additionally to one side of the blowermotor 82; (4) a line 108 connected to the line 98 and one side of thethermostat member 94; and (5) a line 110 which is connected from thetherostat member 94 to supply the other power line to the heater element88 and the blower motor 82.

The thermostat member 94 may be of a bi-metallic type heat sensitiveswitch structure which is operable, on reaching a predeterminedtemperature, to open or close a switch member 111 which, in turn, wouldconcurrently energize or de-energize the heating element 88 and theblower motor 82 for proper operation as will be explained.

USE AND OPERATION OF THE INVENTION

In the use and operation of the food receptacle and heating apparatus 12of this invention, the main container housing 16 is utilized to holdfood product 14 therein such as popcorn, potato chips, tortilla chips,or nacho chips as desired. The main function of the invention is theproper holding and separation of the food product while allowing asufficient amount of heated air to pass therethrough to maintain theproper temperature of the subject food product. This invention has beenparticularly noteworthy for use in a final food product known as "Nachosand Cheese" whereupon a plurality of nacho chips are placed on a servingdish and covered with spicy cheese. It is important that the nacho chipsbe used in a sufficiently heated condition for the maximum enjoyment ofthe "Nachos and Cheese" combination.

In the use of the food receptacle and heating apparatus 12, the bottomwall 26 is supported on a serving counter, table or the like and thepower supply is provided by placing the plug member 96 of the inletpower cord 90 in a 110 volt AC electrical outlet receptacle.

The top lid member 24 has the main lid body 54 moved upwardly about thelid hinge member 56 to an open or semi-open condition as noted inFIG. 1. Then, the interior of the basic housing assembly 22 is filledwith the food chips 14 as so desired. A major portion of the food chips14 would be supported on the top surface of the second inclined screenmember 68 but some of the food product would move downwardly through theopen space 69 on to the first inclined screen member 66 as noted in FIG.3.

After being initially loaded, the top lid member 24 and the outlet doormember 42 are moved to the closed condition as shown in solid lines inFIG. 3.

Next, the on/off switch 102 would be activated to the closed orenergized position to allow electrical current from the plug member 96to move through the line 98 to the thermostat member 94. The thermostat94 utilizes a sensing element extended through the back wall 34 of thebasic housing assembly 22. The themostat member 94 will be of anadjustable type so that a predetermined temperature can be maintainedwithin the main container housing 16. The switch member 111 is operableon reaching a both a high and/or a low temperature setting to insurethat (1) the heating elment 88 will be energized with the blower member82 if the temperature is not sufficient within the basic housingassembly 22; and (2) when an excessively high temperature limit isreached in the main container housing 16, it would cause an opening ofthe switch member 111 to de-energize the heating element 88 and theblower member 82.

On closing of the switch member 111, it is seen that the blower member82 and the heater element 88 are energized whereupon the inlet air isfirst moved through the louver members 81 into the blower housing 80.The blower motor 82 is operable to force the inlet air through the airoutlet housing 84 into the heater assembly 76. At this point, the movingair is heated by the heater element 88 and moves through the dischargehousing 89 into the air distributor housing 91. Next, the heated air isdischarged through the air inlet opening 35 in the back wall 34. At thistime, the heated air, indicated by arrow 112, is distributed and movesupwardly through the first inclined screen member 66 and holes 67 tocontact the food chips 14 resting thereon. The heated air continues itsflow upwardly through the food chips 14 and the holes 67 in the bottomsurface in the second inclined screen member 68 as shown by arrows 114.This heated air moves upwardly, as noted in FIG. 3, until dischargedthrough the holes 60 in the closed top lid member 24 into theatmosphere.

It is noted that the movement of the heated air into the main containerhousing 16 operates to have the initially heated air contact the foodchips 14 resting on the first inclined screen member 66 so as totransfer heat to the food chips 14 in a greater amount as these areadjacent the outlet door member 42 and next to be removed.

The operator of the food receptacle and heating apparatus 12 may movethe outlet door member 42 to the open condition as shown in dotted linesof FIG. 3 in order to remove the heated food chips 14 therefrom. Onclosing the outlet door member 42 and, due to the movement of the airflow therethrough, it is obvious that the remaining food chips 14 wouldmove downwardly on the inclined surfaces of the first and second screenmembers 66, 68 under force of gravity. Of course, the basic housingassembly 22 can be restocked with food chips 14 as desired and the noveloperation allows the gradual heating of the food chips 14 as they movedownwardly on the reversely inclined first and second screen members 66,68.

It is seen that the food receptacle and heating apparatus of thisinvention is an attractive, compact structure having means to providefor automatic operation thereof. The front wall, the end walls, and thetop wall can be constructed of a transparent material so that thecustomers can observe the operation and the heated nature of the foodchips so as to increase product appeal and resultant food sales.

It is seen that the food receptacle and heating apparatus of thisinvention is easy to operate; efficient in the operation of the heattransfer function; substantially maintenance free; and relativelyinexpensive to manufacture. It is obvious that the various holes in thetop lid member and the first and second inclined screen members can beadjusted to achieve the desired rate of air flow in conjunction with theoutput from the main blower assembly and the heater assembly so as toachieve the proper heating of the food product. Also, the thermostatmember can be adjusted and regulated so as to maintain the propertemperature therein and prevent the overheating or burning of the heatedfood product.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with preferredspecific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that thisdescription is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of theinvention, which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A food receptacle and heating apparatus adapted to receivefood products such as chips therein for the purpose of receiving,holding, displaying, heating, and dispensing therefrom, comprising:(a) amain container housing having an enclosed basic housing assembly with alid member pivotally connected thereto and a lower outlet door memberselectively movable from a closed to an opened condition to remove thefood product therefrom; (b) said lid member having a plurality of holestherein to permit the flow of discharge air therethrough; (c) a foodsupport assembly mounted within the interior of said basic housingassembly having a first inclined screen member extended upwardly fromsaid outlet door member to receive the food product thereon for transferunder the force of gravity and downwardly and laterally thereon; (d)said first inclined screen member having a lower edge positionedadjacent a lower edge of said outlet door member to support and directthe food product thereto; (e) an air flow and temperature controlassembly having a main blower assembly, a heater assembly, and a circuitcontrol assembly operably connected to the main container assembly; (f)said heater assembly connected to an output of said main blower assemblyto heat the air flowing therethrough and direct the heated airinternally of said basic housing assembly below said food supportassembly; and (g) said circuit control assembly operable to selectivelyenergize said main blower assembly and said heater assembly to controlthe heating of the air flow through said food support assembly toproperly heat the food product mounted thereon.
 2. A food receptacle andheating apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein:(a) said basichousing assembly includes a bottom wall with integral, verticallyextended end walls; a back wall; and a front wall; (b) said front wallhaving said outlet door member thereon which can be selectively movablefrom a closed to an opened condition to remove food product therefrom;and (c) said first inclined screen member extended in a common planeupwardly from said front wall to said back wall and between said endwalls to completely cover the area therebetween.
 3. A food receptacleand heating apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein:(a) said backwall having an air diffuser opening therein extended substantiating awidth of said back wall operably associated with said air flow andtemperature control assembly to diffuse the heated air substantially thewidth of said first inclined screen member for heating the food product.4. A food receptacle and heating apparatus as described in claim 1,wherein:(a) said food support assembly includes a second inclined screenmember mounted above said first inclined screen member in a reversedinclination relative to said first inclined screen member so as toinitially receive food chips thereon and direct downwardly toward anopening between said second inclined screen and said main containerhousing in a reverse direction so that the food chips are movable undergravity downwardly and laterally towards the upper portion of said firstinclined screen member.
 5. A food receptacle and heating apparatus asdescribed in claim 4, wherein:(a) said first inclined screen member andsaid second inclined screen member having parallel and horizonallyextended longitudinal axis.
 6. A food receptacle and heating apparatusas described in claim 2, wherein:(a) one of said end walls having aclean out door positioned adjacent said bottom wall; and (b) said foodsupport assembly includes a clean out tray member mounted on said bottomwall and selectively removable for maintenance purposes through saidclean out door.